MIAMI COUNTY – Miami County Official held their annual delinquent property tax sale on Wednesday, September 7th. The sale was conducted by County Auditor Jane Lilly and County Treasurer Annette Phillippo. A property tax sale is required to be held in each Indiana county for those properties where an owner of real estate fails to pay the property taxes from the prior year’s first property tax bill installment. A tax lien on the property may be sold to satisfy the tax obligation to the highest bidder. The owners of the properties sold at the tax sale have one year to pay the delinquent property taxes, conducted by Indianapolis-based SRI Incorporated on behalf of Miami County, offered 134 parcels to 17 bidders. SRI conducts tax sales in 83 counties in Indiana. This year’s tax sale resulted in the collection of $347,373.80 from owners and buyers. 250 parcels had all taxes, penalties, and costs paid in full. Treasurer Annette Phillippo said, “Tax sales are a necessary function of county government. It is only fair to the people who pay their property taxes every year to pursue those that do not pay.” The 78 properties that did not sell, the county commissioners acquire a tax lien. The county commissioners may offer those properties to the public at a sale a later date. County Auditor Jane Lilley commented, “It is our ultimate goal to return these properties to the tax rolls as quickly and efficiently as possible. Property owned by people that pay their taxes ensure our local government services are fully funded.”